Monday, December 22, 2008

Today is Bread Baking Babe day! We're all revealing the bread we baked this past month and when I tell you it was a wonderful bread to work with, well....wait 'til you see it!

But, before we get to this month's bread, let's take a look back the past year of bread and let's have some fun while we do it shall we?

To wrap up and review the past year of baking bread with the Babes, I bring you a little (trust me, it is little...very little) Christmas carol parody of all things bread from me to you and yours during this holiday season.

To celebrate the Season with a theme appropriate bread, a Swedish Yule Wreath as offered in the cozy kitchen of Cookie Baker Lynn is the December bread.

We were given the chance to make this either sweet or savory and let me tell you, the creativity of the fillings my fellow Babes came up with was mind boggling. So after you finish here go check out all my fellow Bread Baking Babes' wreaths. You can find links to their blogs in my side bar.

I really enjoyed making this bread quite a bit. The dough was lovely and the technique of cutting and twisting was deceptively easy.

(after rising)

My sweet version filled almond paste, chocolate, and espresso disappeared in less than five minutes at the office. One of these will be gracing the table Christmas morning while I'm in Northern Michigan with my family the next few days.

Would you like to be able to make one of these? Would you like to be Bread Baking Buddy?! Then go over to see Lynn's post and get the details on how to join us this month as a buddy.

Speaking of bread gracing your table...

Did you know that if you live the greater NYC, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and you've always wanted to learn to make bread by hand but just don't think you can do I have an offer for you!

and one of the prizes The Sour Dough is offering is a chance for you to learn how make make bread completely and totally by hand with me.

This is a full day of bread making and we will do two breads, my No Fail Farmer's White and one other like whole wheat, cinnamon rolls, Challah or even the Swedish Yule Wreath if you want! The Day of Bread making with Breadchick is prize code UE06.

To bid on the Day of Breadmaking or the other prize The Sour Dough is offering, the LA Burdicks Chocolate Mice (UE05), or any of any other prizes my fellow food bloggers are offering all you need to do is:

1. Choose a prize or prizes of your choice from our Menu for Hope at Chez Pim

3. Each $10 you donate will give you one raffle ticket toward a prize of your choice.

4. Please specify which prize you'd like in the 'Personal Message' section in the donation form when confirming your donation. You must write-in how many tickets per prize, and please use the prize code.

For example, a donation of $50 can be 2 tickets for UE05 and 3 tickets for UE06. Please write 2xUE05, 3xUE06

4. If your company matches your charity donation, please check the box and fill in the information so we could claim the corporate match.

5. Please allow us to see your email address so that we could contact you in case you win. Your email address will not be shared with anyone. Promise!

6. Winners will be announced on Chez Pim on January 12, 2009.

One last thing, I'm in very, very, very snowy Northern Michigan (27" of snow in my parent's back yard!) until December 29th using the super speedy dial up at my folks house (28kbs!). So, if I'm a bit slow in replying to any comments or questions, please be patient.

OK, go bid on prizes, make Yule Wreaths, drink the Nog, spread the cheer, and don't forget to do what is really important, hug your family and friends...